Here's How I Get Paid to Grocery Shop #Ibotta Rebates

Originally posted 8/14/15 and updated every now and then, like today (September 6, 2019) … my new lifetime earnings are $516.48 ($54.00 just in the first 6 days of September and I have a lot more positive financial damage planned!). Just realized I can also get $3 back doing Walmart Grocery Pickup, which I already do, but I'll just do non-rebate items when I do pickup because rebates don't count on pickup items since they want you to experience the product in the store (they told me this).

Ibotta basics: You get cash back (or you can do gift cards instead) in your PayPal account just for buying things you would normally buy or for trying new things. My family LOVES when I use this app because I bring home cool things they love that I don't normally buy, like Kind bars and Lara bars (my teen boys flip over them) and Naked drinks and cool yogurts and all sorts of fun things.

**As of June 18, 2019, I try new things like granola bars and different kinds of cereal and yogurt, but I am also getting rebates on milk, eggs, bananas, ground turkey, butter, veggies and even beer and wine! There are also rebates at places like Petco and Amazon.com, restaurants and liquor stores. I'm so glad I found this app. I'm addicted to it!

I should cash out again today at over $18 because Aron got paid today and so it's GROCERY SHOPPING DAY at my place. Every little bit back helps and this is better than coupons and easier too! Our Hulu and Netflix subscriptions, as well as other school things we might buy on eBay, come out of my PayPal account, so it's nice to pad it a little bit each month!

How does it work? Download the free app in your app store (here's my referral link [ugh, working on getting this fixed so if you get a message that says DISABLED, please contact Ibotta] so we can be on the same team and earn more together!). Find your favorite grocery store. I do WalMart (neighborhood market) and Price Chopper and HyVee for rebates most of the time. Scroll the products (see below) and there are many! I also now go to Dollar General since I've moved and they also have rebates.

I need to update this pictures because it looks different now!

After you do your "task" the rebate unlocks (update: not so many tasks anymore to do). Sometimes you have to scan the product code or enter it by hand if it's on something wonky like chicken and it won't scan. When I am in the checkout line, I hit the green REDEEM button at the bottom on the screen and it brings up my loyalty card and I check out that way. If I don't have a loyalty card for the store, I take a picture of my receipt and they process it.

I have been getting my rebates in my Ibotta account about the time I am done unloading my groceries. Even on weekends. Give it a shot!

Here's my referral link so you can be on my "team" ... this means that when we all get rebates as a team and reach a certain goal, we all get extra money in the form of bonuses! This is my screen from today. I only have to go to the grocery store today to redeem another rebate and, because my team has already hit $10, we all get an extra $1 when I redeem! Just for being a team! I believe you can do this four times a month.

UPDATE: I'm now on Level 4 of the teamwork bonus. I got $1, $2, $3 and am on track to get another $4 by the end of the month just by redeeming a few more rebates because my team has already hit $15 in rebates. The bigger the team, the easier it is to get the bonuses every month. That's an extra $10 each month just for using the app.

Update: I just got back from grocery shopping. Normally I would go to Aldi (zero rebates) and Price Chopper (so-so amount of rebates but higher prices; not as high as HyVee) and I would spend about $400. Today I went to our WalMart Neighborhood Market instead. It was WAY not crowded, for one thing. Also, I only spent $300, filled my cart like crazy (see picture below) and got $18.55 in rebates. I just had to take a picture of my receipt so they could confirm I did all that shopping and I was good to go! Since I can cash out at $10 in Ibotta, I am right now over $20 and that's all going in the PayPal account!

WARNING: Sometimes I do get frustrated with Ibotta because they are SUPER specific on what you get the rebate on. I wanted the $2 rebate on toilet paper but I had to get the MEGA roll of some specific Cottonelle Clean Care product and WalMart did not have it. Same for missing out on a $1 rebate because Tyson doesn't stock regular chicken thighs in the frozen section and the strips did not count.

MORE WAYS TO GET PAID:
MyPoints lets you print coupons and get points, and the points translate into gift cards and cash.

Receipt Hog is an app where you upload your receipts once the shopping is done. That's it. They just want your receipts. And coins add up to cash.

Bottom line: Still loving this app 3 years later!

Helping You To Keep Your Cool In Your Home Now And In The Future

While summer will soon be a distant memory, we shouldn’t be too surprised that September and easily Fall in general tends to give us good weather. Which means there is still hope for wearing those summer clothes and enjoying the great outdoors before getting into full on winter mode. However, whether we have sweltering temperatures this month, or perhaps for next summer, we can all prepare to help our home allow us to keep our cool. For some reason, many of us start to struggle when the temperature begins to rise, so with that in mind, here are some of the ways you can keep your cool. 

Image source - Pixabay - CC0 License 

Utilise those curtains and blinds

Something so simple as shutting the blinds and curtains before the sun rises and leaving them closed all day can make a huge difference to the temperature indoors. When the sun shines through the window, it can really heat up the room and make it feel much hotter than even the outside temperature at times. This simple action can make a big difference to the way a room feels. Another step would be to even shut doors off from rooms you won’t be using, especially the likes of your bedroom, keeping it cool for the evening. 

Keep a stock of frozen treats and cold drinks

The name of the game is to always try and keep yourself cool, so indoors it is worth having a good stock of frozen treats and cold drinks in the fridge. The best drink would always be water in high temperatures. Enabling you to keep your body temperature cool and your body hydrated. 

Invest in decent fans or an air conditioning unit

A decent fan can be a life saver at the hottest point of the year, especially if you need to be working from home, for example. However, if you find that you are spending a good deal of time indoors, perhaps an air conditioning unit might be the best choice to invest in. It may be a great time to book in an AC repair to ensure that your unit is still functioning correctly, ready for any decent weather we may still get or ahead of time for next year.  

Add a tint to the windows

As mentioned earlier, the windows can be a huge problem when it comes to increasing the temperature in a room. However, not all of us can keep the blinds shut all day. So you may want to consider a tint on the windows instead. If this sounds like a good option, then you can find out more here. This option can also help to keep the heat in your home during the winter so you may find it is a worthwhile investment that could work for you all year round. 

Keep the use of electrical items and ovens to a minimum

Finally, using electrical items and ovens can add more heat to your home. So during the day try and keep the use of these items to a minimum to help keep the room temperatures down. 

I hope some of these tips help you keep your cool in your home. Now let’s keep those fingers crossed for a nice September. 

You Can Do Anything 5 Minutes at a Time

*Originally posted March 10, 2010 when my kids were ages 8, 6, 4, 2 and baby.

Here's how I'm cleaning today ...

I'm spending 5 minutes on the Internet at a time because otherwise I spend way too long on there while the kids are sleeping, playing or watching TV.

Then I'm spending 5 minutes doing dishes or accomplishing some other task like putting away laundry or picking crap up or whatever.

It makes life exciting, I'm tellin' ya. It's like a little relay race with myself. You have to keep things fresh when you're a stay-at-home chick like me. And it makes for some thrilling blogging!

How the heck do you get it all done while caring for kids and spending time on the Internet?

Updated September 2, 2019 and I still pretty much do this because I still have these lovely (I don't want to use the word interruptions because that seems negative and I love having my kids around all the time) … kidlets around the house much of the time. So I do what I can when I can little bits at a time only now they help me :-) We chat while we fold towels. Chat while we do dishes, pull weeds in the garden and around the pool out here in the country.

No more do I pop the youngest in a sling and mow the yard when my husband goes out of town while giving the other kids treats to stay inside no matter what (lawnmowers are dangerous!). These days my two oldest do a huge hunk of the mowing on the riding mower … acres of mowing all by themselves. Then they get in their cars and go to work!

So these days a lot of things get done with 5 minutes at a time: ordering groceries, teaching a math concept, reading a book, giving a bath, grabbing a bath for myself, sending a Marco Polo, scheduling a mammogram. Life changes and you just keep rolling with it and praying about it and loving it and appreciating it!

Oh, and I have also, over the years, been able to write books and articles and do proofreading projects just a few minutes at a time. It all adds up.

Here's to a happy life!

(72 post views in 9+ years!)

7 Ways To Motivate Yourself To Go To The Gym

Pixabay - CCO Licensed

Can’t seem to find the motivation to go to the gym? These 7 tips could help to give you the incentive that you need.

Choose the right gym

First, you need to be certain that you’ve chosen the right gym. A lot of gyms have free tasters or tour options that can allow you to tell if a gym’s facilities and clientele are right for you. There are gyms catered to young people and gyms catered to older people, gyms dedicated to serious gym-goers and those that are more basic. Only by trying different ones can you decide which one is best for you.

Stick to a schedule

It’s good to establish a weekly training schedule in which you train on certain days at certain times. Without this, you may find that you’re more likely to put off going to the gym. Choose days and times that suit your lifestyle and that motivate you (some people find it much easier to work out in the evenings, whilst others are more motivated in the morning).

Wear the right clothes

It’s important to feel comfortable as you exercise. For some people, this can involve looking good, as well as feeling good. Consider buying some sportswear to help motivate you. Having the right sports bra and footwear could also be important for keeping comfortable.  

Find an exercise buddy

Some people feel more motivated when training with someone else. It can be a chance to socialise, plus you could feel that you’re letting your buddy down by not going. Try to find someone of a similar fitness level as you.

Consider hiring a personal trainer

A personal trainer can also help to provide motivation. They may also be able to put variety into workouts whilst still helping you work towards your fitness goal. Most gyms have personal trainers working there who you can talk to. Every trainer is likely to set different rates and some may specialise in certain areas of fitness such as weight loss, strength training or endurance running.

Record your progress

Recording your progress allows you to see how far you’ve come, whilst also helping you to set micro-goals each week. Apps are a convenient tool for recording progress and may even allow you to time workouts and measure steps (using wearable tech you can also measure your heart rate). Alternatively, you can keep a written personal diary or blog. Some gyms may even have machines that record your progress for you.

Reward yourself after exercise

Giving yourself something to look forward to after the gym could also spur you to go. Some gyms have spa facilities such as a sauna or pool – you could treat yourself to this after your workout. Alternatively, you could allow yourself a foody treat (providing it doesn’t contain so many calories that it undoes your workout). 

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Instead of your typical spinning reels, the reels in this slot falls down and settles into place with a satisfying click. A winning combination is formed when matching symbols appear on reels that are connected from left to right. The payout depends on the number of symbols that appear on one line. If a winning combination is formed, all symbols that formed part of that winning combination disappear and new ones take their place.

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Cash Prizes

A minimum three of a kind combination pays out. This means that combinations of four or more will automatically increase the amount won. In addition, your prize is also multiplied when any of the reels have two of the symbols that form part of that winning combination. The multipliers themselves are also multiplied, which means bigger rewards.

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